Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I am a CT Technologist and have been for 10 years. 2 years previous experience in X-Ray so a total of 12 years experience. My last job in CT I was paid 35 dollars an hour. The last job I had was in a higher tier field of imaging, and it paid 43 dollars.
All of this said . . . I left my job of 5 years because of terrible working conditions. I had a manager who was the most vicious I've had in my career. Psychologically I could not handle working for her anymore. It was quite honestly ruining my life. We had 4 people leave in one year under this manager (in a very small department), and she is currently in 3 lawsuits with 3 former employees, two of which were brought against her and one which she brought against a former employee to try to get his unemployment benefits taken away. I'm only stating these facts so you know that it was NOT a normal or healthy working environment.
So I made the decision to leave. No job. No backup plan. I just had to go. I cashed out half of my retirement, and I already had 20,000 in the bank anyway. My friend agreed to let me stay with him for a while, and I started actively looking for work about 4 months ago.
In those 4 months I've had 5 interviews and no job offers. I think I have applied for about 75 jobs overall I would say. THere's not a lot of work in my field at the moment.
I was finally offered a position with a hospital, but their initial offer was 32 dollars an hour. This is 3 dollars less than I was making 7 years ago. Not only that . . . it's WITHOUT benefits. So that makes it WAYYYY less than I was making 7 years ago. I wrote a very nice letter responding with a counter offer, and I asked for more money because of my experience level, my previous payment history, and because it was an unbenefitted position that I would hope to see that in my salary.
Their response?
"We have to take our other employees into consideration, and you are being paid in line with them. We cannot offer you anymore than 32 an hour. We do not pay premiums for non benefit employees. We need to know by tomorrow."
So why am I writing this little mini blog here?
Well. I'm unemployed. I HAVE to take this job. And to be honest . . . it's not the MONEY that's bothering me. It's my ego. 110% my own inflated ego. I feel like such an idiot that I wrote a letter for a counter offer. They must think I am stupid for even THINKING I could ask for more when I haven't been working for over 6 months in this job market.
The other issue for me is . . . I kind of resent them. I feel like they are low balling me just because they can, and I dont think they're investing in a good employee. I feel like I'm starting out on the wrong foot with a chip on my shoulder.
So what's going to happen is I'm going to take this job . . . keep applying . . . and then I'll find another job with better pay. And that's that. Is this the new job market? Do employers understand that this doesn't work? The fact that I'm getting paid 11 dollars less than I was 6 months ago . . . and 3 dollars less than I did 7 years ago in the same exact field with no benefits is just . . . coming as a complete shock.
So now . . . I have to write my acceptance . . .and I dont even know how to say it. I just feel like such a worthless addition to the work force. Like my existence means nothing and I am just a number to put in a box.
I'm sure there's a lot of people here who cannot find work. I should be jumping for joy that I found a job . . . but its very bittersweet.
Any responses you have . . any personal stories . . . and any idea for how to swallow my pride and tell them I accept this offer . . . without looking like a complete fool for trying to get what I thought was a "fair" wage are appreciated. Heck, go ahead and lambaste me for being unappreciative that I've been offered a job and I'm crying like a baby. Just feel like I need to talk to someone about it, and this is the only place I can think of.
I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. You said you applied for 75 jobs and this is the first offer; after being unemployed for 6 months. I've applied for over 170 jobs and had 4 interviews (with another one in the near future). No job offer.
Take the $32 an hour and keep looking. That gives you such a security blanket and will make things a little less urgent and stressful when looking for a new position.
Also, you could spend another 6 months applying for 75 more jobs, wasting more money on gas, etc. to get to interviews, and then accept a job at $41 an hour. Then your yearly pay would be less over the next year as opposed to taking the $32 an hour for the entire year.
$32 for an entire year > $41 for 6 months.
I have yet to have a job offer. I figure that I am probably going to be low-balled as well if I ever do receive a job offer. You negotiated and they said no. You did all you could do. Accept it and build your resume and earn your money, even if it's not what you expected.
I'm probably not going to negotiate at all if I receive an offer, unless it is ridiculous. It's a risk these days, as they have someone else lined up behind you to take that same offer.
It's frustrating, but it is the world we currently live in.
Yes, take the offer and keep looking. When you have a job, employers will treat you differently. I lose sleep because of a small raise so taking a cut is horrible. Good luck.
Just write the acceptance offer and thank them for the great opportunity. Live to fight this fight another day. Take the blessing of a job that was brought your way and who knows what will come out of it. You may end up be promoted,getting benefits and having a great career there.
So take the job. And keep looking for a better one. You'll have more luck being stolen from a job you're working than from the couch at home.
Dude I took a job washing toilets and janitor work when construction took a dump in the late 90s. I made about 1/2 my normal pay for back then. Its only temporary till you get something better. Its not like you're gonna die with a lead apron in one hand and X-ray film in the other at this place. Take the money keep looking.
Its not like you're gonna die with a lead apron in one hand and X-ray film in the other at this place. Take the money keep looking.
LMFAO!!! Thanks man. This comment made me laugh.
So I just sent my acceptance email. Like I said, this is all ego. I feel like I'm swallowing my pride. They could probably care less. I have to stop taking these things PERSONAL and learn to separate my business from my self worth. It's just hard for me. I have a hard time keeping my feelings in check (not like I . . . go spazzy or anything), I would say I'm sensitive about things that . . . probably have nothing to do with me.
The offer is what they could make and get away with.
I need to start treating jobs like jobs and not careers. I dont feel like anything is long term anymore . . . and I dont think it's changing. I'll try to find satisfaction in other areas of my life, and not worry so much about work. That's my problem.
Thanks for your responses. I feel better at least just crying about it for a moment.
Anonymous2004 I really wish you the best with that search man. Applying for so many jobs is annoying but the WORST is interviewing and hearing nothing. Starts to get to you REAL fast. ********** job market man. What a grind.
Much love.
Last edited by Lsquallhart; 03-04-2014 at 11:26 PM..
No one is lowballing you. It's not about YOU. They have a job and they have a certain budget.
If the pay they are offering doesn't meet your needs, don't take the job. If you need the money, take the job.
HOWEVER, if YOU take the job, you can't go in there mad and angry at YOUR choice to take the job. The salary is not a personal attack against you and no one is taking advantage of you.
Stop looking to blame someone else for a choice you will make.
I took a job a year ago because of the dire straits we were in. Far less money than I've made in a long long time. Just starting looking again. It will get better for the both of us. At least we can pay our bills for right now, and that's the economy we have these days.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
